Oil paint, a permanent paint, can be used as in lieu of egg tempera. Made by mixing pigment with linseed oil, this classically used paint is known for the rich colors and tones it creates. However, unlike egg tempera, oil paint takes months to dry and must be sealed with a varnish.
Famed for its translucent colors and its ability to be manipulated, watercolor paint can also be used as a substitute for tempera paint. Watercolors are easy to clean up, and are often blotted for artistic effects. Unlike egg tempera and oil paints, this water-based paint can be lifted after the painting has dried.
If an artist is seeking a versatile medium, acrylic paint is ideal and can be used as a substitute for egg tempera. Acrylics are water soluble, and can be thinned and cleaned with water. Like egg tempera, acrylic paint is permanent and dries quickly.
With its opaque nature, gouache paint is often used to color posters, making it a good replacement for egg tempera paint. Thick and rarely translucent, gouache paint often gives artists trouble because it is hard to make its consistency even.